Lok stands for people and Adalat means court . It is an alternative dispute resolution system in India . The mechanism of Lok Adalat (LA) designed and evolved with the object of promoting justice . The Indian courts overburdened with the backlog of cases and regular courts are to decide the cases involve a lengthy , expensive and tedious procedure . The court takes year together to settle even petty cases . LA therefore provides alternative resolutions over devise foe expeditious and inexpensive justice .

Both pre litigation and post litigations efforts are invited by LA to enable the entire society to create peace and harmony .

LA has been given statutory status under the legal services authorities act , 1987 . Under this award made by the LA and is deemed tp be the decree of civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal lies before any court against its award .

Nature of cases to be referred to LA

1. Any case pending before any court .
2. Any dispute which has not been brought before court provided that any matter relating to an offence not compoundable under the low shall not be settled in LA .

The overall functioning and achievement of LA appreciable though not remarkable. There is a need to strengthen . The system of LA in recent context , which will help to realize the constitutional goals of equal and social justice to its fullest extent .